116 I answered then, “This is my first and last saying, that it would have been better if the earth had not produced Adam, or else, when it had produced him, to have restrained him from sinning. 117 Because what profit is it for all who are in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment? 118 Oh Adam, what have you done? Because though it was you who sinned, the evil hasn’t fallen on you alone, but on all of us who come from you. 119 Because what profit is it to us, if an immortal time is promised to us, but we have done things that bring death? 120 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, but we have most miserably failed? 121 And that there are reserved habitations of health and safety, but we have lived wickedly? 122 And that the glory of the Most High will defend those who have led a pure life, but we have walked in the most wicked ways of all? 123 And that a paradise will be revealed, whose fruit endures without decay, in which is abundance and healing, but we won’t enter into it, 124 for we have lived in perverse ways? 125 And that the faces of those who have practised self-control will shine more than the stars, but our faces will be blacker than darkness? 126 Because while we lived and committed iniquity, we didn’t consider what we would have to suffer after death.”

127 Then he answered, “This is the significance of the battle which humans born on the earth will fight: 128 if they are overcome, they will suffer as you have said, but if they get the victory, they will receive the thing that I say. 129 Because this is the way that Mosheh (Moses) spoke to the people while he lived, saying, ‘Choose life, that you may live!’ 130 Nevertheless they didn’t believe him or the prophets after him, not even me, who have spoken to them. 131 Therefore there won’t be such heaviness in their destruction, as there will be joy over those who are assured of salvation.”

132 Then I answered, “I know, master, that the Most High is now called merciful, in that he has mercy upon those who have not yet come into the world; 133 and compassionate, in that he has compassion upon those who turn to his law; 134 and patient, in that he is patient with those who have sinned, since they are his creatures; 135 and bountiful, in that he is ready to give rather than to take away; 136 and very merciful, in that he multiplies more and more mercies to those who are present, and who are past, and also to those who are to come—137 for if he wasn’t merciful, the world wouldn’t continue with those who dwell in it—138 and one who forgives, for if he didn’t forgive out of his goodness, that those who have committed iniquities might be relieved of them, not even one ten thousandth part of mankind would remain living; 139 and a judge, for if he didn’t pardon those who were created by his word, and blot out the multitude of sins, 140 there would perhaps be very few left of an innumerable multitude.”

8 He answered me, “The Most High has made this world for many, but the world to come for few. 2 Now I will tell you a parable, Ezra. Just as when you ask the earth, it will say to you that it gives very much clay from which earthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold comes from. Even so is the course of the present world. 3 Many have been created, but few will be saved.”